Coming Undone

by Lauren Dane

Book Overview

A new novel of "toe-curling" erotic romance from the national bestselling author of Laid Bare.

After his parents' death, Brody gave up a promising career to care for his family. Now, with his siblings grown, Brody owns his own business, and for the first time in years he's alone. Elise has come to Seattle with her daughter to find peace. After years as a world-famous ballerina-and trapped in a marriage gone bad-she's looking...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425232700
• ISBN13: 9780425232705
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Berkley / Nal
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Great sexy love story

Lauren Dane is amazing. First she gave us Erin, Todd, and Ben to fall in love with in "Laid Bare." Now, with Brody's story, she's made me fall even harder. There is nothing unlovable about Brody Brown. He has the looks and sexuality of a bad boy, with the heart and soul of the most sensitive and loving man ever born. While he takes charge and does everything necessary to take care of those he loves, he tries hard to keep those urges dialed down, since Elise's past with an abusive husband make his controlling behavior a hot button for her. When Elise lets herself accept that Brody really just wants to do anything to make sure she and her daughter Rennie are happy, she is better able to accept his personality and stop keeping her past from him. Elise is a strong person, even without Brody in her life, and she is determined not to become another "burden" to him. Rennie is a loving and funny little girl who makes Brody and his family fall in love with her, too. I absolutely loved this book, and I can't recommend it enough. I was also thrilled to read more about Erin and Brody's younger brother, rock star Adrian. I hope he gets his own story soon, because he stole most every scene he was in, as far as I'm concerned. He is another honest and trustworthy and hot and fabulous man, and he deserves his own happily ever after! The next book in the series comes out in November, and it will be the story of Ben's brother Cope and Erin's employee Ella. That one should be great, as well.

heated contemporary romance

When she broke her leg, she broke her dream of becoming a ballerina. However, she has no time to mope as she has a daughter to raise. So needing a change of scenery, Elise and her child leave New York for the Left Coast Seattle. Her next door neighbor tattoo parlor owner Brody Brown gave up his dreams to raise his siblings when their parents died. He rides a motorcycle as he seeks the wild side he gave up out of family responsibility. Brody and Elise are not looking for any involvement beyond casual sex so why each wonders do they want more in their relationship. However, when New York comes to Seattle, Elise keeps Brody out of her trouble that has followed her and her daughter from the Right Coast to Washington State; but he refuses to stay out of it as this is his two females. This is a heated contemporary romance starring the Brown family patriarch and his new neighbor. Both have baggage, but the most important thing in their fling is not to harm her daughter. Fans will enjoy love between two likable individuals who cannot stop their nurturing need to help and the heat of desire from exploding while their love for one another ignites them. Lauren Dane is two for two with the Brown saga, but fans will have to cope with the wait for the next Brownian romance. Harriet Klausner

Wow...great book!

I loved Laid Bare it was amazing and Coming Undone was just as good. I read it in a couple hours, even snuck it work because I had to finish it. I may even have to go back and read both of them again, slower this time. The author really brings you in, makes you feel so much for these characters they become so real. Some books go for that "over the top" kind of drama but not these. You won't be disappointed!!!

5 blue ribbons from Romance Junkies

With multiple tattoos, a large build and love for riding his Harley, Brody's appearances can be a bit offsetting but he's a prime example of why one should never judge a person based on their looks. He's a gentle loving man who set his own dreams aside when his parents died in an accident to raise his siblings but now owns his own tattoo parlor and takes great pride in his achievements. His love for family and their close-knit group of friends - and theirs for him - says a lot about the sort of man he is... but it's the introduction of Elise and her daughter into his life that makes him realize just how much he's been missing. Elise's career as a primary dancer is over but she's a survivor and not even her ex's abuse could destroy her spirit. In a bid to begin a new life for herself and Rennie far from the heartache and painful memories of New York they've settled in Seattle and Elise feels safe for the first time in a very long time. Oh sure there are still concerns stemming from her past but Elise's dance school is doing well and enrollment is up and Rennie is settling right in and thriving. The only thing missing is a man in her life but fantasies about the hot biker living across the street will have to do - for now. Elise's focus must remain on raising her seven year old daughter and she isn't about to complicate things by dating. Despite them being neighbors, Elise doesn't officially meet Brody until she witnesses him being hit by a speeding vehicle. Even then it's just to care for him until the paramedics arrive - and then lock up his house after following his instructions on how to contact his sister, Erin. From those few moments on the phone with Elise Erin realizes that Brody's new neighbor is levelheaded and exactly the sort of woman he needs in his life. She's right of course but neither Elise nor Brody are looking for a happily-ever-after. However, there's certainly nothing wrong with being friends with benefits. After seeing his sister through the devastation of the murder of her daughter, Brody is well acquainted with the sort of haunted fear and pain he sees in Elise's eyes but he's hoping she'll trust him enough to willingly share the details of her past with him. While Elise's relationship with Brody progresses she realizes that he's become a vital part of her life. More importantly, he's a pseudo father figure to Rennie and she worries about what will happen when he decides she carries too much baggage and leaves. Brody's made of stronger stuff than she ever imagined because he'll stand by her through as much drama as her ex-in-laws can provide. Elise's nice safe existence is threatened but with the love of a good man and a family who loves her at her side she can conquer anything - including Brody's jealous ex-lover Raven. I admit it, I fell in love with Brody in Erin's story LAID BARE and my feelings for him have only grown stronger as I read the sequel COMING UNDONE. Lauren Dane's talent for creating cha

Warm and Breathless

A tattooed, Harley riding bad ass. What's not to love? Brody is the older brother to his two siblings Adrian and Erin. Nearing forty, he owns a successful tattoo shop, a nice home, and enjoys a satisfying life knowing both of the siblings he raised are settled in successful careers and happy. Surrounded by family and good friends, life is good for Brody. Elise, a former ballerina, and now owner of dance studio, moves in across the street from Brody, hoping to establish a quiet life for her and her young daughter Rennie. She's rebuilding her life after a violent relationship with Rennie's father and hoping to escape her former in-laws who seem bent on making her life a living hell. A freak accident brings their worlds together and they begin an amazing friendship that will eventually change their lives in ways neither of them ever expected. Fresh off my high of reading Laid Bare I hoped that Coming Undone would be every bit as good. Well, it's not--it's even better in my opinion. Brody is sexy on so many levels. Besides his obvious physical appeal, he's the guy you know you can count on without even asking when times get rough. He's the protector, the fixer, the gentle giant. He possesses a self assured sexuality without being cocky and just the right amount of confidence to curl your toes. Elise is an independent, dedicated single mother who is determined to leave her past behind and create a happy, safe home for herself and her young daughter. Although she has been through hell and back, Elise is strong and seeks no pity from her friends. Young and sexy she discovers that wounds from the past have not permanently scarred her spirit or her sensual nature. Both Laid Bare and Coming Undone are centered around families and their relationships, but I did wonder how a young child would fit into this erotic romance. Lauren Dane handled this beautifully developing the relationships appropriately, without portraying the child as an obstacle in the developing emotional relationship between Elise and Brody. Instead Rennie, Elise's daughter, captures everyone's hearts around her with her sweet honesty and sunny personality. She is truly charming. Elise and Brody have blazing hot chemistry and waste no time in heating things up. Because both are busy business owners and Elise is first and foremost a mom who puts her daughter first, they have to be creative with their private time together. This makes for great spontaneous sexual situations and they learn to seize the opportunities as they present themselves. Translation: hot sex in a very mirrored dance studio between dance classes, hot desk sex at the tattoo shop...you get the picture. During their first unplanned sexual encounter: "He pulled out a lone condom, checked the expiration date and breathed a sign of relief. He'd need to make a donation somewhere that afternoon when he left, to thank the universe for that luck." For those of you who loved Todd, Erin and Ben